Vano Siradeghyan

Vano Siradeghyan (Armenian: Վանո Սիրադեղյան; born November 13, 1946) is an Armenian politician and writer. He held several high-ranked positions in the 1990s. Between 1992 and 1996 he was Minister of Internal Affairs[1] and Mayor of Yerevan from 1996 to 1998.[2] After President Levon Ter-Petrosyan's resignation in February 1998, criminal charges were filed against him.[3] Siradeghyan disappeared in April 2000[4] and since then he is wanted by the Interpol.[5] Today, Siradeghyan is seen as one of the most influential and controversial figures of post-Soviet Armenia.

Vano Siradeghyan
Mayor of Yerevan
In office November 14, 1996 – February 2, 1998
Preceded by	Ashot Mirzoyan
Succeeded by	Suren Abrahamyan
Minister of Internal Affairs
In office February 10, 1992 – November 8, 1996
President	Levon Ter-Petrosyan
Personal details
Born	November 13, 1946 Koti, Armenian SSR
Political party	Pan-Armenian National Movement
Alma mater	Yerevan State University
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Armenian

External media
Images
Vano Siradeghyan
Siradeghyan's mugshot
Video
Siradeghyan talks about the 1996 election on YouTube
Siradeghyan's last interview on YouTube

Early life

Siradeghyan was born in the village of Koti in north-eastern Armenia, near the Azerbaijani border in 1946. From 1966 to 1969 he served in the Soviet Army and five years after coming back home graduated from the Yerevan State University in 1974.[6] In 1983 he published his first book named Kiraki (Sunday).[7]

He is married with five children.[6]

Political career

In 1988, Siradeghyan became one of the main members of the Karabakh Committee, which demanded the Soviet authorities to incorporate the Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of Azerbaijan with Armenia. In December 1989, the leading committee members, including Siradeghyan, were arrested but were freed in May 1990. The Pan-Armenian National Movement was founded by its members the same year.[3]

Siradeghyan was appointed the Minister of Interior Affairs in 1992 by President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, where he remained until 1996. According to the University of California, Berkeley Pr. Stephan H. Astourian, Siradeghyan "controlled part of the local market in oil products, part of the incomes generated from transport junctions, the greater part of the food market, the smaller part of bread production, and the woodwork and timber industry."[8]

He was criticized for the tough stance on political opposition. In 1994, Ashot Manucharyan, his colleague from the Karabakh Committee accused Siradeghyan for "subverting democracy and fueling corruption", while Hambartsum Galstyan claimed he was responsible for 30 politically motivated murders.[9] He also played a key role in forcible crackdown of Vazgen Manukyan's supporters' protests after the controversial 1996 presidential election.[10] In an interview in January 1999, Siradegyan stated that Ter-Petrosyan fell into a three-month depression and that he wanted Vazgen Sargsyan and Siradeghyan to resign. According to him "the whole state apparatus was demoralized, paralyzed and no government was formed during [the ensuing] three months."[11][12]

In November 1996, Siradeghyan resigned from his position at the Interior Ministry. On November 14, 1996 he was appointed Mayor of Yerevan. In July 1997, Siradeghyan was elected leader of the Pan-Armenian National Movement.[13] On February 2, 1998, a day before Levon Ter-Petrosyan's resignation, Siradeghyan resigned from the Yerevan Mayor position.[2] Prime Minister Robert Kocharyan was elected President of Armenia in March 1998.

Charges and arrests

On February 1, 1998, Siradeghyan resigned from his position of Mayor of Yerevan.[14] Two days later, on February 3, 1998, President Levon Ter-Petrosyan resigned as a result of disagreements with "hard-line military leaders" Defence Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Prime Minister Robert Kocharyan and Interior and National Security Minister Serzh Sargsyan over the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement negotiations with Azerbaijan. After Ter-Petrosyan resignation, Siradeghyan became the leader of the Pan-Armenian National Movement.[15]

In January 1999, Aghvan Hovsepyan, the Prosecutor-General of Armenia, called the National Assembly to strip Siradeghyan from parliamentary immunity for allegedly ordering murders of two police officers in January 1994. Siradeghyan has been charged with 10 offenses including arson, murder, attempted murder and conspiracy.[15] Days earlier two dozen armed militiamen were arrested by the National Security Service, headed by former President Serzh Sargsyan at the time.[16] As a response to these actions, Siradeghyan claimed that "they [the authorities, i.e. Robert Kocharyan's administration] want to strengthen their power and strengthen their grip on power in Armenia."[16] Meanwhile, Siradeghian left Armenia for two weeks. In February the National Assembly voted in favor of depriving his parliamentary immunity from persecution.[4][13] In February 1999 the Deputy Minister of the Interior and National Security and commander of Armenia's internal troops, General Artsrun Makaryan was shot dead, "prompting speculation that he had been killed to prevent him from giving evidence against Siradeghian."[4]

In March 1999, Siradeghyan was reelected chairman of the Pan-Armenian National Movement. At the 11th PANM congress, Siradeghyan criticized President Kocharyan and his alleged "military-police system".[4]

Siradeghyan was arrested on May 3, 1999 at the Zvartnots Airport after returning to Armenia from Bulgaria. However, the Office of the Prosecutor General did not submit a request describing what Siradeghyan is accused in. On May 7, Siradeghyan was released from custody and continued the election campaign.[17][18]

The parliamentary election in Armenia took place on May 30, 1999. Siradeghyan Pan-Armenian National Movement won only 1.2% of the party-list. However, Siradeghyan was elected from a single-constituency district in Yerevan.[13]

Disappearance

Siradeghyan left Armenia in early April 2000,[13] after the National Assembly lifted his parliamentary immunity to allow for his criminal prosecution.[19] Armenia's former Foreign Minister Alexander Arzoumanian replaced him as leader of the Pan-Armenian National Movement in December 2000.[13] Siradeghyan was deprived of his parliamentary mandate later in November 2001, because of missing more than half of the parliamentary sessions.[20][21]

Post-disappearance

In July 2012, a petition for the return of Siradeghyan was initiated by a social network group.[22]

On July 25, 2012, Suren Sirunyan, Siradeghyan's bodyguard held a press conference. He claimed that he is the last person to see Siradeghyan on April 3, 2000, when Siradeghyan allegedly fled Armenia.[23]

Political commentary

On January 26, 1999 in his first interview since resignation in February 1998 Levon Ter-Petrosyan harshly criticized the charges against Siradeghyan.[24]

During the parliamentary talks on Siradeghyan's issue, Hovik Abrahamyan, the Speaker of the National Assembly stated "I’m not expecting him; if he wants to come back, let him come, it’s his business."[22]

Writer Sergey Galoyan believes that Armenia needs Vano Siradeghyan. He in particular stated that Siradeghyan is "one of the best modern writers, [and] a charismatic figure." Galoyan also claimed that "in the 90s Siradeghyan did in Armenia what Benito Mussolini did in 1923, that is, he ‘uprooted mobsters’."[22]

Hayk Babukhanyan, MP from the Republican Party of Armenia, stated in August 2012 that he is "for the justice, he should face a trial" and "should carry the responsibility for the crimes he committed." Babukhanyan claimed that in case Siradeghyan returns Levon Ter-Petrosyan "will run away".[25]

References

1. "Previous ministers" (in Armenian). Government of the Republic of Armenia. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
2. "Վանո Սիրադեղյան (Vano Siradeghyan)" (PDF) (in Armenian). Yerevan City Municipality. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
3. Adalian, Rouben Paul (2010). Historical dictionary of Armenia. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. pp. 158–160. ISBN 9780810860964.
4. Taylor & Francis Group (2004). The Europa World yearbook 2004. London: Europa. p. 554. ISBN 9781857432541.
5. "Siradeghyan, Vano". Interpol. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
6. Վանո Սմբատի Սիրադեղյան [Vano Smbati Siradeghyan] (in Armenian). National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
7. Siradeghyan, Vano (1983). Kiraki. "Sovetakan Grogh" Hratakchʻutʻyun. p. 104.
8. Astourian, Stephan H. (2000–2001). "From Ter-Petrosian to Kocharian: Leadership Change in Armenia" (PDF). University of California, Berkeley. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
9. Malkasian, Mark (1996). "Gha-ra-bagh!": the emergence of the National Democratic Movement in Armenia. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. pp. 204–205. ISBN 9780814326046.
10. Rutland, Peter (1998). Annual Survey of Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union 1997: The Challenge of Integration. Armonk, NY: Sharpe. p. 361. ISBN 9780765603593.
11. Astourian, 2001, p. 45
12. Danielyan, Emil (9 January 1999). "Armenia: 1996 Presidential Election Was Rigged, Aide Suggests". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
13. Alan John Day; Roger East; Richard Thomas (2002). A Political and Economic Dictionary of Eastern Europe. 2002: Psychology Press. p. 426. ISBN 9781857430639.CS1 maint: location (link)
14. "Vano Siradeghian Resigns more than 25 Armed Militiamen Arrested New National Council Formed". Asbarez. 1 February 1998. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
15. "Armenia: The Armenian National Movement and 'Husos Paros'". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 31 August 1999. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
16. "Prosecutor General Deman's Siradeghian's Arrest On Murder Charges". Asbarez. 25 January 1999. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
17. "Republic of Armenia Parliamentary Election Final Report". Warsaw: Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. 30 May 1999. p. 17. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
18. "Armenian politician due to be released". BBC World Service. 7 May 1999. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
19. "Parliament Postpones Consideration of Siradeghian Issue". Asbarez. 10 November 2000. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
20. https://www.azatutyun.am/a/1567096.html
21. https://www.azatutyun.am/a/1567209.html
22. Mkrtchyan, Gayane (19 July 2012). "Return of the prodigal son?: Initiative lobbies for Interpol-wanted Vano Siradeghyan's "right to live in his motherland"". ArmeniaNow. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
23. "Last person to see Vano Siradeghyan in Armenia was head of his guard". Tert.am. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
24. "Armenia: Ter-Petrossian Criticizes Charges Against Old Ally". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 28 January 1999. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
25. "If Vano Siradeghyan returns, Levon Ter-Petrosyan will run away". Panorama.am. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.